Allen Iverson's Appeal Denied in Court

Allen Iverson must pay $260,000 for watching his bodyguard beat up a man in a bar fight in 2005.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected the Detroit Pistons guard's attempt to throw out the verdict decided by a jury in 2007.

Iverson's bodyguard Jason Kane allegedly punched, kicked, and hit bar patron Marlin Godfrey, who suffered a concussion, a ruptured eardrum, a burst blood vessel in his eye, a torn rotator cuff, cuts and bruises, and emotional injuries as a result.

A three-judge appeals court panel wrote that Iverson stayed out of the fray in the back corner of the VIP area, standing on a couch or bench and observing.

"The evidence in this case supported the jury's finding that Kane attacked Godfrey in a fight that lasted several minutes, and that Iverson stood and watched without attempting to do anything to stop the beating," the decision said.

Godfrey and another patron, David Anthony Kittrell, sued Iverson for $20 million, but the jury decided not to award punitive damages and only compensate Godfrey $10,000 for his medical bills and $250,000 for pain and suffering. The jury found neither Iverson nor Kane liable for assaulting Kittrell.